HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s Nancy Winstel has been named the national coach of the decade by Women’s Division II Bulletin, and her basketball program is tabbed the best during the past decade by that same publication.
Winstel has guided NKU to a pair of national championships (2000 and ’08) and four regional titles (2000, ’02, ’03 and ’08) since 2000. In addition, the Norse have played in the national championship game three times (2000, ’03 and ’08).
NKU's Nancy Winstel has been named national coach of the decade by Women's Division II Bulletin.
“The 2000s were proof that she is one of the elite coaches,” said Gary Rubin, editor and publisher of Division II Women’s Bulletin. “Two national titles, (being named) WBCA and Great Lakes Valley Conference coach of the year many times and surpassing the 600-win milestone earn her the coach of the decade honor.”
Winstel is currently 619-229 in 30 seasons as a head coach. She has 580 wins on the Norse sideline.
NKU was also named the program of the decade by Women’s Division II Bulletin. NKU has won at least 20 games eight times the past 10 years and earned NCAA Division II Tournament berths nine times.
The Norse posted a 29-3 record last season and earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional Tournament. NKU has also won GLVC Tournament titles in 2000, ’06 and ’09.
“NKU has consistently been a Division II power was has been on top when it counted most – on the national stage,” Rubin said of NKU, which has played four times before a national television audience on ESPN2.
The 2008 national championship game between NKU and South Dakota drew the highest rating for a women’s Division II finals contest in ESPN2 history with more than 693,000 viewers and 272,000 households watching.
In addition, NKU three-time All-American Michelle Cottrell twice was named Division II National Player of the Year. Cottrell was also named the most outstanding player of the 2000 Elite Eight.